Mani walls are built of flat stones carved with mantras, most commonly Om Mani Padme Hum, and with images of Buddhas and protectors. They are made as acts of merit, and each passer-by gains merit by walking around them clockwise. The wall near Ghami runs for roughly 300 m, among the longest in Nepal, and from a distance looks like a low grey ridge crossing the plain.
Close up you can see the variety of carvings: some fresh and painted, some worn smooth by centuries of wind, some carved in Tibetan script, others with simple figures. Chortens punctuate the line. Your guide reads some of the inscriptions and tells the local story that the wall marks the entrails of a demon killed by Guru Rinpoche, whose blood stained the cliffs at Dhakmar.
The walk is flat and takes about an hour there and back from Ghami, or it fits into the morning trek or drive to Tsarang. Keep the wall on your right, do not climb on it or take stones, and photograph with care. Early morning or late afternoon light shows the carvings best.
Good for
- Families
- Seniors
- Photographers
- Pilgrims
Questions travellers ask
How long is the mani wall near Ghami?
It is commonly described as about 300 m long, which places it among the longest mani walls in Nepal. Lengths quoted vary between sources because the wall has sections and gaps. It lies on the trail between Ghami and Tsarang and is easily visited on foot or from the jeep road.
Which side should I walk past a mani wall?
Walk with the wall on your right, moving clockwise, which is the Buddhist custom for chortens, mani walls and prayer wheels. If you are coming back the other way, take the path on the other side so the wall is still on your right. Never climb on the wall or remove stones.
What is written on mani stones?
Most carry the six-syllable mantra Om Mani Padme Hum, associated with Avalokiteshvara, the bodhisattva of compassion. Others show prayers, other mantras or images of Buddhas, deities and saints. They are carved by local craftsmen and offered by families for merit, for the dead or in hope of good fortune.
